Guest column
There is no such thing as racism
Nicole Steigerwald
Some time ago, I had a conversation with a fellow employee about racism. As Martin Luther King Day approached, she commented it was a day to celebrate for “her people.”
“What do you mean ‘your people’?” I asked, “Don’t you mean all people?”
She looked at me as if I had lost my mind and replied, “You know, my race.”
“So let me get this straight.” I asked, “You think that just because your skin has a different color than mine, that you belong to a different race?” She looked confused so I continued. “Unless you are an alien from outer space, a whale swimming in the ocean or a bird in the sky, we are all the same race, it’s called the human race and Martin Luther King Jr. was an advocate for the equal rights of all people, regardless of skin color.”
My heart was a little heavier when she still disagreed. I did not engage in a debate with this woman – who I worked closely with every day – because I felt the need to be right. It was actually because I was hurt that she thought so little of my feelings on the memory of Dr. King and his efforts and also the fact that she was exhibiting the very prejudice and narrow-minded thinking that so many others are conditioned to think and feel.
There are several descriptions in the dictionary listed under the word racism but instead of copying them down verbatim, within the definitions are the disturbing words that jump off of the page that we should focus on: discrimination, intolerance and hatred.
As emotional beings of one human race, we are often biased and opinionated, regardless of whether it be learned or experienced. It is almost impossible to say that any of us could make it through one entire day without encountering disrespectful feelings or thoughts about another member of our fellow man. Whether your experience comes from within yourself, learned from your parents, molded by society or you are subjected to the feelings or opinions of another, it is an ever-present, daily occurrence that negatively affects us all. As well as this, we also project what is inside of us out into the world, so is it any wonder then that our world is in such turmoil? Why is it that we are surprised by the many terrible things that people do to each other and by acts of terrorism that seemingly happen on a daily basis when so many of us fail in the first place to treat others with the dignity that every human deserves?
Wouldn’t it be far wiser and kinder instead if each person could make even a small effort to reflect more positive and loving thoughts out into this world? Would it not also be far better to erase the word racism from existence altogether and understand that all people are just that: people.
As well, we should stop magnifying past transgressions of others and look toward the future, digging deeper within ourselves to respect our fellow man.
I firmly believe that with conscience effort, we could then forgive, heal and move forward and teach our children to respect, tolerate and love others. Period.
“What do you mean ‘your people’?” I asked, “Don’t you mean all people?”
She looked at me as if I had lost my mind and replied, “You know, my race.”
“So let me get this straight.” I asked, “You think that just because your skin has a different color than mine, that you belong to a different race?” She looked confused so I continued. “Unless you are an alien from outer space, a whale swimming in the ocean or a bird in the sky, we are all the same race, it’s called the human race and Martin Luther King Jr. was an advocate for the equal rights of all people, regardless of skin color.”
My heart was a little heavier when she still disagreed. I did not engage in a debate with this woman – who I worked closely with every day – because I felt the need to be right. It was actually because I was hurt that she thought so little of my feelings on the memory of Dr. King and his efforts and also the fact that she was exhibiting the very prejudice and narrow-minded thinking that so many others are conditioned to think and feel.
There are several descriptions in the dictionary listed under the word racism but instead of copying them down verbatim, within the definitions are the disturbing words that jump off of the page that we should focus on: discrimination, intolerance and hatred.
As emotional beings of one human race, we are often biased and opinionated, regardless of whether it be learned or experienced. It is almost impossible to say that any of us could make it through one entire day without encountering disrespectful feelings or thoughts about another member of our fellow man. Whether your experience comes from within yourself, learned from your parents, molded by society or you are subjected to the feelings or opinions of another, it is an ever-present, daily occurrence that negatively affects us all. As well as this, we also project what is inside of us out into the world, so is it any wonder then that our world is in such turmoil? Why is it that we are surprised by the many terrible things that people do to each other and by acts of terrorism that seemingly happen on a daily basis when so many of us fail in the first place to treat others with the dignity that every human deserves?
Wouldn’t it be far wiser and kinder instead if each person could make even a small effort to reflect more positive and loving thoughts out into this world? Would it not also be far better to erase the word racism from existence altogether and understand that all people are just that: people.
As well, we should stop magnifying past transgressions of others and look toward the future, digging deeper within ourselves to respect our fellow man.
I firmly believe that with conscience effort, we could then forgive, heal and move forward and teach our children to respect, tolerate and love others. Period.